OC-1 Buyers Guidance

[mfeagan]

My girlfriend and I are planning on purchasing a couple OC-1 for ww in the next 6 months. Both her and I are experienced tandem paddlers (up to class III) in our Dagger Legend, and want something to play in for day trips, and the rare one night trip. She weighs 130 pounds and I weigh 185.

Looking for any input comparing the following boats: (compare dryness, stability, playability, speed, easiness to roll, and bang for the $$ (value), that would be dandy).

Mohawk Probe 11
Mohawk Probe 12
Mohawk Probe 12II
Bell Prodigy
Bell Prodigy X
Mad River Outrage

Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks from Prince George Canada. For a good time, check out the following website

www.paddlepg.ca

And go to videos - some fun stuff here. My lady friend and I are the featured "OC" in "Canoes Attack the Willow!" doing the canyon and ledge drop. Fun stuff!!!

[mfeagan]

Any of the Esquif boats that might be in this range.

(nitro?)

Thanks!!!

[Gauncho99]

I think the choice is between speed and how much you want to play in surf holes and stability. There's usually a trade-off somewhere. The Mohawk Shaman is fast, eddy catches well, and is a good all-around boat. I'd go with that versus the Probes. I personally like the Outrage X better than the Outrage for speed. The Prodigy and X are interesting boats with good hull speed and strong secondary stability. For dryness, just get a bilge pump. The Esquif Nitro and Detonator are outstanding surf boats, more suited to someone paddling III-IV water. You can stay in a surf hole all day and order lunch.

[Paddle Power]

I think Lyle Dickieson is from your area. He would be a good person to ask. I don't have contact information but maybe you already know him or of him.

[James]

Not clear if you are going to be checking out the limited used market, but if so, keep in mind the entire dagger line. particularly the rival, impluse type hulls. I went from tripping canoes into a rival, very fun river runner that is fun to front surf. I have not paddled the mohawk range, but you will not go wrong with these established (dagger) bob foote designs, if you can find one in good shape used.

[mfeagan]

I sure do know Lyle. He's giving us a lesson in the spring once we get our boats. He knows a lot about boats (owns over 20), but nothing specific for OC-1 models beyond clipper - and I don't want a fibreglass boat. Thanks for the suggestion though.

We're doing a paddling trip down to Oregon in April (on the John Day), and planning on stopping in a Middleton's in North Van to test drive an Outrage. I don't think Canada has a distributor for Mohawk - everything from them seems like it's only done out of their factory in Florida. They do seem like good buys though (a lot cheaper than the Mad River or Bell). I also heard that the Mohawk Probe is the same boat as a Clipper Probe but in Royalex. Is this true?

[yarnellboat]

Hi MF,

The Clipper Probes (fiberglass) are the same mold as the Mohawks, and Western Canoe would bring you in a Mohawk, but everything I hear about ordering directly from Mohwak has been awesome. You could order one to Seattle (assuming you shipping is more straight forward and you could possibly avoid some taxes) and pick it up to/from the John Day?

When you're at Middleton's test the Esquif boats too, whatever else he has. With what's available locally, you're probably looking at eith an Outrage or a Detonator or Nitro. David is a great person to do business with.

P.

[Jan_dettmer]

MF, if you look for something cheap and small, I have a Quake
for sale here in Victoria.

Oh Yeah, I might have a Prodigy X for sale as well. Not sure about price though yet. I wrote a review about the boat at

http://www.open-canoe.de/open

Cheers, Jan

[sbroam]

Actually, I think it is the other way around - the Clipper Probe and Viper are versions of Mohawk boats in glass. The Viper was designed by Frankie Hubbard for Mohawk; the Probe is a "detuned" Viper (not designed by Frankie?).